Kollin Rice has practiced law in the Toledo, Ohio area since 1996. His practice is primarily in the areas of Employment Law, Family Law, Social Security and Workers' Compensation. He previously had a greater focus on criminal defense law, and still does some. As a former Series 6 Registered Representative (a license to sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other securities) he is interested in and eager to expand his practice in the areas of financial malpractice and stock broker/financial advisor malpractice. He continues to try to gain fluency in Spanish, but at this point does much better with...

Christine M. Smith graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Akron and earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Toledo School of Law.
She practices primarily in family and criminal law. She is a collaborative law trained family law attorney and a founding member of the Northwest Ohio Family Law Association. Prior to her private practice, she worked as a prosecutor for the Villages of Swanton and Metamora.
Christine spent several years prior to law school working as a family law paralegal for her father, Gary L. Smith, so naturally, upon graduating, she joined forces with...

I have been in private practice for over 40 years on an uninterrupted basis. I focus primarily in employment law and civil rights and also handle domestic relations and custody cases as well as commercial litigation.

I practice in all areas of Ohio, with my primary base in Northwest Ohio. I am licensed to practice in any court in Ohio, and am admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio and the Eastern District of Michigan, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee). I have clients from all across the country who have come to me in time of need. I concentrate my practice in the fields of criminal law, family law, juvenile law (delinquency), and appeals of all...

If a person wishes to terminate his or her marriage, he or she may file for a divorce. In a divorce proceeding, the court will terminate the marriage and determine the rights and responsibilities of the divorcing parties regarding child custody, child visitation, child support and spousal support (alimony). The court will also redistribute marital assets.

Depending on where you reside and where your assets are, the division of property can be a very simple or very complex process. Disputes often arise during this phase of a divorce if the two parties disagree as to who should receive which assets or property.

Finding a divorce lawyer who is experienced and reliable can reduce your stress and help you make the best choices possible. A good divorce lawyer should be a problem solver who is skilled at negotiation and possesses a solid trial background. If both parties are open to alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration or mediation, finding a lawyer experienced in collaborative divorce or divorce mediation would be beneficial.

Divorce lawyers also handle child custody issues, including multi-state and international child custody situations. Some divorce lawyers may be certified by their states as being family law specialists. Certification often requires that a lawyer meet certain experience and educational criteria.

Legal Custody:
A parent with legal custody has the right to decide on the child's upbringing, education, and medical care. A court may grant legal custody to one parent (sole legal custody) or both parents (joint legal custody).

Separate Property:
Property acquired before marriage or during the marriage as a gift or inheritance, or bought during marriage with separate property.